Disclaimer: I don't own YYH or the characters

I just have to say that this chapter was by far my favorite chapter to write :) Hope you enjoy!

Day 5: Song/Missing/Ghost

The night of the grand ball welcome party came so quickly, practically overnight. Botan felt jitters, a combination of excitement and nerves. It was nothing like how she felt during the balls in Reikai. This was more of a positive sensation than negative.

Unlike in Reikai, Botan had no idea what to wear. The style was so different here, and Botan wanted to make a good impression, especially on Hiei, her date. When Hiei asked her to attend the ball, the princess was certain it had to be a dream. In the days that came, though, their friends teased them none to subtly. It always left Botan blushing and Hiei irritated, but he did nothing to dissuade the taunts.

A knock on the door jolted Botan out of her thoughts. She didn't know who was at the door, especially because Hiei said he'd pick her up later. "You're early," she called out when she answered the door.

Standing behind was not Hiei as Botan anticipated, but Raizen instead. "L-Lord Raizen?" the princess greeted.

The ruler chuckled and patted Botan's head, that same affectionate gesture from their first day of travel. Botan didn't understand why it moved her so. "There's no need to be so formal, princess," Raizen assured her. He placed a large, white box on her bed. "I brought you something to wear for the ball. I think you will like it."

Botan's mouth dropped open in an o-shape, but she clamped her mouth shut. She wanted to tell Raizen he didn't have to dote over her, but his smile and warmth told the princess that her host didn't mind. To be gracious, she decided to humor him and opened the box. Her eyes sparkled at the dazzling green gown and its various accessories.

In awe of its beauty, Botan gently pulled out the gown. It was less reserved than the gowns she wore in the past, but still classy, elegant, and oh so beautiful. Golden patterns of stars, suns, and circles adorned the flowing bottom that was made half of silky fabric and half a velvety yet light and subtly ruffled material. The neckline dipped and would wrap around one's bosom tastefully, and the sleeves opened from the shoulder to mid-arm and made of a sheer black netting and gold trimmings. There was even a golden headband that was designed to look like a crown of leaves and a pair of green heels with a flowered decoration.

"It's gorgeous," Botan marveled, amazed by how lovely it was. She looked to Raizen, crestfallen. "I can't accept this."

Raizen wasn't bothered by Botan's denial, and his kind expression never faltered. "Of course you can. This outfit belonged to my mate. She would want you to wear it."

Botan was even more horrified and protested harder. "Your mate's? But…but I can't… This is too precious to be given to a stranger. I could never…"

"It would suit you," Raizen gently argued. Botan went silent. "You have a free spirit like she had, and she wouldn't want it to waste away in a box. Please wear it."

Botan sighed in resignation and nodded. Her acceptance brought so much joy to Raizen's face. Even though he seemed happy, Botan could sense a heaviness in the room. She ran her hand over the fabric and averted her eyes to the floor. "I'm…very sorry…about what happened to your mate," she said sadly. At Raizen's confusion, Botan quickly replied. "Hiei told me."

Emotion filled Raizen as he met eyes with the princess. "Your condolences are appreciated, princess. No matter how much time has passed, it is still hard."

Botan turned to face Raizen fully. "I can imagine. I just feel so awful that you don't know where your mate and child are. I…if there is anything any of us in Reikai can do—"

Raizen flashed the princess a sad smile. "I figured out what happened to my mate," he told her. Botan grew hopeful. She leaned in, hoping for good news. "Sadly, she did not survive."

Botan visibly reacted. Her hand flew to her mouth, and she choked on a sob as she turned away from Raizen. It seemed so silly to react so strongly over a woman she never met, but anguish filled Botan at the sense that her kind host's wife and her friend's mother could never return to them.

"What…what about the child?"

Silence permeated between them, and Botan chanced a glance over her shoulder. It looked like Raizen had been caught off-guard by her question, like he wanted to say something. He shook his head and then regarded Botan. "I know my child is alive, safe, and well at this time. She is just like her mother."

Botan's eyes alit with life once again, and excitement welled up within her. "You have a daughter? Why haven't I met her? Is she here?"

"No, not fully," Raizen cryptically stated, "but she's on her way. All I can say is that I'm very proud of her and who she has become. I believe she had a trying upbringing. I hope once she realizes she's home, she will be able to put it behind her."

Botan knew Raizen meant what he said. She could feel his sincerity and love for this child, and the princess felt this girl to be so lucky. Her relationship with her own father was strained at best, and Raizen already seemed like he would dote on a daughter and give her the moon and stars if she asked.

"Lord Raizen, your daughter is very lucky to have a good man like you for a father."

Raizen grinned at Botan, and an emotion reflected in his eyes that the princess couldn't quite describe. "Thank you, princess. It means a lot to hear you say that."

With that, the Tourin ruler left the princess to dress, and Botan took the opportunity to doll herself up. She applied makeup that seemed more on the gentle, natural side, but still made her look radiant. As for her hair, Botan decided to leave it down and allowed it to spill over her shoulders. If her father saw her now, he'd say she looked completely unruly and uncouth, but Botan felt like she looked like herself for the first time in her life. Funny that she had to be in another world to feel like she was home.

A sigh escaped Botan, and then there was another knock on her door. A glance out the window told her it was lately than she expected. Her visit was probably Hiei. Butterflies fluttered about Botan's stomach. She'd never been so excited about the prospect of a date before. Hiei brought feelings out in the princess that she didn't quite understand. All Botan knew was that she liked this feeling of anticipation and adventure. Hiei evoked the sense of both within her.

Once Botan opened the door, she practically beamed at the sight of her date. Hiei was dressed up nicely in black dress slacks and a light blue shirt. The arms were tailored back, so they came down half his arm and clung to his skin. Botan could make out quite a bit of his musculature in the outfit. She grew distracted, but Hiei stole her attention when he handed her a box.

Botan giggled nervously. First Raizen brought her a gown, and now Hiei had a gift for her. "You're all spoiling me," the princess teased. "Be careful, or you might never get…rid…of…me…"

The princess couldn't believe what was in the box, and her sentence trained off because of her shock. It was that necklace, that beautiful rose pendant from the market, that disappeared before she could ask for it. Botan never would have guessed it disappeared because Hiei purchased it. She looked to Hiei questioningly.

"I saw you eyeing it in the market," Hiei told her as if it were obvious. That was all he said about it.

It was then that Botan walked over to her vanity and took her rose bracelet out from a drawer. Hiei's eyes widened just a fraction, so subtle that Botan wouldn't notice. "It matches my mother's bracelet," she told him as she held out the jewelry for him to see.

"Out of all the things you chose to bring, you picked that?"

Botan's head cocked to the right. "Yes, why?"

Hiei shook his head. "No reason. It's beautiful. And you're right; the necklace matches it perfectly."

He slowly circled Botan until he stood behind her, and his arms came around her to put the necklace on her. As his fingers closed the clasp, Botan shivered as she felt his fingers graze her skin. The princess touched the charm of the pendant and was overcome with emotion. Almost immediately, she experienced a memory with her mother as the queen planted roses in the Reikai garden.

The princess was a child in her memory. She played in the dirt, while her mother tended to the garden, and ruined her dress, but the mother just laughed with her daughter. The two of them then had lunch by the fountain. When the king showed up and saw how messy Botan appeared, he yelled at the queen. The woman just sat there and took the verbal abuse, but she had a fire in her eyes.

"Botan is just a child, my king," the queen orated. "She is allowed to play and get a little dirty from time to time. She is not a porcelain statue."

"She is a lady," the king replied coldly, "and no nobleman would want a dirty wife."

Botan blinked as she came back to reality. It amazed her that she repressed such a memory that seemingly meant nothing. The princess had no idea what was going on between her parents back then, but she understood it now. Her mother defended the princess's freedom while her father wanted to keep her on a figurative shelf to wait for the time he could hand her off to a noble. Botan grimaced and hugged herself. Her grip on her arms was tight.

"Hey," Hiei called out, his brows furrowed in concern. Botan snapped from her bitter thoughts and met his gaze. "Where did you just go?"

Botan withdrew into herself, timid, as she answered her companion. "I…remembered something…about my mother." Although Hiei didn't push her, Botan knew he wanted her to continue. "She and I were in the garden while she planted roses, but I got dirty. My father was very angry. He gave her a hard time, but she defended me, wanted me to be a kid and play however I wanted. My father…he just wanted me to be perfect—pristine and clean for a nobleman… I wasn't even six, then."

Hiei growled and shook his head. "Like I said, I'd hardly count that man as your father. He doesn't behave like it."

The princess sighed and looked out her window. Her room faced the market place, and it was very lively today. Botan's heart clenched in her chest at the thought of leaving this wonderful world behind to return to isolation. "I wish I didn't have to go back," she confessed, not realizing how her words affected Hiei. He watched her, stiff as a board, eyes slightly wide in surprise. "I really like it here, and I enjoy the freedom, even with the security detail. I never feel smothered or like a prisoner. The clothes are comfortable. The only clothing I ever owned that could match the feeling of the fabric here and never felt constricting was my mother's dress… It had roses all over it, a beautiful white dress. That was the one I wore when you visited."

"I know," Hiei said, which earned Botan's bewilderment. "I mean I remember from the description."

Botan's gaze softened, and she sadly smiled. "I…I know I shouldn't feel so much loathing for my own home. Don't get me wrong; I love my brother, and Ayame, my maid, is one of my most treasured friends. I just…feel like an outsider."

Emotion shone in Hiei's eyes, but it was quickly snuffed out. "I get it," he forced out, his voice strained. "More than you know."

There was a moment of silence that settled between the two for a moment, and Botan felt relief. It was comforting to know she could talk to someone about this without any backlash from her people. If she dared to voice these issues with anyone in Reikai, her father would be livid.

Before she could fall down the path to those dark thoughts, Hiei took her hand. His touch was electric, and both seemed to feel it as they conveyed their confusion through their eyes. Hiei was quick to recover after he shook his head vigorously. His grip tightened on Botan's hand as he led her to the door and then escorted her to the dance.

The ballroom was nothing like Botan would have expected. She expected it to be like the rest of the castle, a stone room with muted lighting. Instead, it was a brilliant, bright place that almost looked like the halls in Reikai. According to Kurama, the late queen designed the place, a touch of feminine decorating in a fortress of soldiers. The queen had been well-respected that everyone gave into her demands. She had that kind of aura.

It was here that Botan was introduced to Keiko, Shizuru, and Yukina. As Yusuke suspected, Botan got along with all of them right away. "So, kid," Shizuru affectionately greeted, "you doing okay surrounded by all the testosterone?"

"Oh ha ha," Yusuke retorted. "Everything's been fine. Right, Bo?"

The princess blushed at the nickname. She never even told Yusuke to call her that, but it made her feel warm and fuzzy inside. Only Koenma and Ayame called her that, and only in private. It felt nice to hear one of her new friends say it.

"I'm surprised you got Hiei to come," Keiko marveled. "He usually avoids these parties like the plague."

When Botan heard the last couple of words, she was reminded that 'the plague', an event she read about in the 'fictional' storybooks, actually happened. At her crestfallen expression, Kuwabara asked, "Hey, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Botan lied. A sigh passed her lips, and she admitted, "I just feel terrible that I knew nothing of these diseases taking place in the human realm. I didn't even know you existed at all… I wish we could have helped." She turned to Keiko. "If there's anything I can do to help you fight the plague…"

The three women smiled empathetically, and Yukina chuckled behind her sleeve. "That honestly sounds like something I would say."

"Pardon?" Botan questioned.

Keiko placed a comforting hand on Botan's shoulder. "What Yukina means…the plague hasn't been an issue for centuries. There are medications that can help combat it."

Yukina dropped her arm and folded her hands together in front of her. "I didn't really know about all these worlds when I left home. My people were very disconnected from the rest of the universe. When I came across Human World, Ningenkai, I had no idea where I was. Even the rest of Makai was foreign to me."

"Why did you leave your people?" Botan gently pressed. "That had to be scary."

The teal-haired woman smiled politely. "Not really. My people were very…restrictive. Because of them I was separated from my brother, and I left to find him."

Botan's eyes widened as her mind connected the dots. The princess remembered that just before the attack in Reikai, Hiei told her he had a sister who lived with a very oppressive people. She knew Yukina looked familiar, but now that the thought entered Botan's mind, she noted the similar eye color and stature of the two. With these thoughts in mind, the princess smiled, and her heart fluttered in joy. She was about to congratulate Yukina for finding her brother when a shout rang in her head.

"No!" Botan blinked in surprise over hearing Hiei's voice in her head. Her eyes searched the crowd for him, and she could see him speaking with Mukuro as if he hadn't screamed at her. "I haven't told her."

The words pained Botan, and she couldn't keep the look of anguish off her face. The women around her all appeared concerned. Keiko approached her and placed her hands on Botan's arms. "Are you all right?"

"I-I-I," Botan stammered. "I'm fine. Just…I feel faint."

Yukina's eyes filled with sadness but, all of a sudden, she grew stern and serious. She looked to Shizuru and said, "Go get some water for her. I'll take care of her."

Botan didn't have time to ask what she meant. Keiko released her and Yukina took over. The other woman's cool hands cupped Botan's cheeks. The princess felt a calming aura surround her and felt her energy boost. Amethyst eyes bore into concentrating crimson. Yukina focused so deeply on whatever she was doing. Then, the girl smiled and removed her hands.

"How do you feel now, princess?" Yukina kindly asked.

Botan was dazed and confused. Before she could express this, Shizuru was back with a glass of cold water. The princess gratefully accepted it and took several large sips. She felt calmer now, less agitated than when Hiei admitted that he kept his identity a secret from his sister who was clearly searching for him. He had to know. Why didn't he tell her?

Speaking of, Hiei approached the foursome, his gaze impassive but his eyes alert. "What happened?" he asked, although Botan was certain he already was aware of how his words affected her.

"It…just got a bit stuffy in here is all," Botan lied. "Actually, can we get some air?"

Hiei remained unmoved, but Botan could see relief wash over him. It seemed he wanted the very same thing after Botan nearly blurted out his secret. He offered her his hand, and she took it so he could hoist her up. The princess then looked to the other ladies who all seemed concerned. "Don't worry, girls. I'm in good hands."

She felt Hiei's grip on her hand tighten, just for a second, and the princess couldn't tell if that was a signal to get moving or a reaction of surprise. His eyes informed her it was the latter.

The two went to the garden, and Hiei breathed out a sigh of relief before he let go of Botan's hand. "I don't know how you figured it out, but it doesn't surprise me," he said.

Botan sat on the grass next to the sparkling pond. She looked overhead and saw the moon which was reflected in its waters. "Why haven't you told her? Are you worried she wouldn't be happy to meet you given you have different mothers? She doesn't seem to care about that."

Hiei laughed, a derisive sound, as he dropped down next to the princess. "She wouldn't, because…it's not true."

Botan's shoulders slumped, and her brow furrowed in confusion. "What's not true?"

Hiei shook his head. "I lied to you," he admitted. "Yukina and I…we don't have different mothers. We're twins."

"But…you said…she said your people separated you. Why?"

At that, Hiei looked away from her, into the water. He seemed to be debating with how he'd word his next statement. "Her people…our people…they are an all female race. They rarely ever give birth to a male child, unless one of the ice maidens has relations with a male. Our mother did, and we were both born. I was seen as a curse. Feared and unwanted by them, I was cast out against my mother's wishes. They condemned me to a life where I had to become what they feared, a murderer who could not love or be loved."

Botan swallowed and wrapped her arms around herself. "I don't think that any of that is true." Hiei must have misunderstood because his eyes grew as wide as saucers, and his mouth dropped open to protest. "I mean, that's not true that you can't be loved or love. Everyone is deserving of love. Even though Yukina doesn't know who you are, she must love you, because she left her people to find you. She obviously hasn't returned, and considering she'd dating Kuwabara, I don't think she shares her people's sentiments about men."

Hiei' lips curled in disgust. "Don't remind me she's interested in that buffoon. If it wasn't for her, I probably would have killed him by now."

Botan simpered and leaned back with her arms to prop her up. "I don't think you mean that," she sing-songed.

Hiei grumbled but said nothing. After a moment of silence, Botan asked, "Why did you tell me the truth now?"

The demon hesitated, and some emotion flickered in his facial expression. "You…you shared something with me earlier, something personal about your life. I thought it fair I do the same." Botan was about to reply when Hiei asked, "Want to dance?"

Botan recovered quickly from the strange suggestion. "There's no music."

Hiei stood and extended his hand to Botan. Despite her words, she took it and let Hiei guide her to the waterfall. He leaned in close and whispered in her ear, "The crashing water can be our music."

Botan was internally moved by him. Hiei held her close and glided her around the garden. There was a glow around them that cast itself over Hiei. His graceful movements gave the impression that the princess was dancing with a ghost. Sprinkles of water flew around them. There were also fireflies blinking in the moonlight. It was a magical scene. Botan never wanted this moment to end.

Once they grew tired, the two lied down in the grass under a large tree. Hiei's hand traced lazy circles on Botan's shoulder. Botan rested her head against his chest and felt completely safe in his arms. She looked up to see the tree glow a luminous blue. It reminded Botan of the story of the Lumos. A smile curved on her lips as she closed her eyes and let sleep overtake her.

Botan spun around the room as she held her phone out in front of her. She laughed as she fell onto the couch. It was fun to let her imagination run wild as she played the game. She could almost picture Hiei standing in front of her, dancing with her and keeping her safe. At the ridiculous thought, the med student blinked and shook her head. She looked to her clock and realized that it was already two in the morning. I can't believe I studied all night!

With a sigh, Botan reluctantly put her phone away, thankful for the break the game gave her. Now, it was time to rest, just like the characters in the story. After all, unlike them, Botan had an orgo exam in the morning. She just couldn't wait for that.

Review Responses

ReaperDemon: Hiei is her protector :) He definitely has to keep his eye on her. And lol about the Yusuke thing. Just remember you said that ^^'

LonelyDreamer7: By the time you see this, you'll probably be completely caught up and know that answer to your Chapter 2 review. ^_^